Jerry Kill doesn't need to see MarQueis Gray's last game Saturday against Illinois to know one thing: Gray is going to enter spring practice next year the same way he's ending this season: as Minnesota's starting quarterback.

"Oh, yeah, yeah," the first-year Gophers football coach said Tuesday. "MarQueis is our best athlete on the team, best player on our team. That kid has handled things very well this season. Not a lot bothers him. That's what makes him special. He'll be (the guy). He just needs to worry about getting better. And this offseason is important for him."

Gray's response was that "it feels great" to know Kill's faith in him has grown strong despite an up-and-down season with the Gophers (2-9, 1-6 Big Ten) as a rookie starting quarterback. But Gray, a junior, can't afford to stop progressing, especially with freshman Max Shortell and top recruit Philip Nelson having the talent to push him in the spring.

"I just have to extend my leadership role with the new quarterbacks coming in, help those guys get up to speed," Gray said. "But as far as I'm concerned, it's still a competition. I can mess up, and any one of those guys coming in or Max could take my spot."

Kill couldn't talk specifically about Nelson because the Mankato West High School standout has still given only an oral commitment to play for the Gophers. But Nelson still plans to sign during the midyear recruiting period in December and enroll in January, according to his father, Pat Nelson.

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As much as he believes his son would be ready to contribute as a true freshman because of Nelson's size (6 feet 3, 220 pounds), speed (4.5 seconds in the 40) and football IQ (already studying Kill's offense), Pat Nelson said Gray returning as the starter would be great for the young Nelson.

"Absolutely," he said. "We're really, really hoping that there's a comfort level with MarQueis in the mix and let Philip absorb the system. There's something to be said for that. If it's not that, then so be it."

But it certainly seems Gray is the guy.

It might have been even more definitive if back and toe injuries hadn't delayed Gray's development as a passer this season. He ranks 10th in the Big Ten in passing efficiency (113.8).

Gray is 46 yards shy of having the best single-season rushing mark of any quarterback in school history. But in the past two games against Wisconsin and Northwestern, he has combined to throw for just 175 yards with no touchdown passes and two interceptions. He completed only 43 percent of his passes in both games. Kill pointed out that Gray's wide receivers dropped at least four passes against Northwestern, including two potential touchdowns.

"But there were a couple times (when) he pulled the ball down and scrambled, we had people open," Kill said. "He should have thrown the ball."

Former Gophers quarterback Rickey Foggie said Gray still has a lot to improve on, but he likes the way Gray has taken control of the offense.

"But for him, this offseason, he has to work as hard as he ever worked in his life," Foggie said, "Because he has shown the type of quarterback he can be."